Collapsible furniture



-May 2, 1944. o. c. GOLDNER 2,347,821

COLLAPSIBLE FURNITURE Filed June 7, 1941 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR. OEI/ILLE 6T GOLDNEE A 7' TOE NE Y fl a May 2, 1944..

O. C. GOLDNER COLLAPSIBLE FURNITURE s Sheets-Sheet 2 Eli-7.

Filed June 7, 1941 INVENTOR. ORV/LL E 6? G04 0mm A T TOENEY.

y 1944- o. c. GOLDNER COLLAPSIBLE FURNITURE Filed June '7, 1941 s Sheets-Sheet s I INVENTOR. ORV/LLE C. GOLDNER A T TORNEY Patented May 2, 1944 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 2,347,821 OOLLAPSIBLE FURNITURE Orville O. GoldZner, San Mateo, Calif.

Application June 7, 1941, Serial No. 397,010

4 Claims. (01. 155-196) My invention relates to improvements in collapsible furniture, and play apparatus.

One of the objects of my invention is to provide interlocking pieces of substantially flat material which can be interlocked with each other to form useful pieces of furniture without the use of nails, screws, bolts or glue.

Another object of my invention is to provide a collapsible article of furniture including a pair of vertical panel members interlocked with each other, each member having a portion extending above an angular offset and a fiat member adapted to be supported by said angular offsets and having slots which fit around said extending portions.

Another object of my invention is to apply the foregoing principles to furniture for nurseries, kindergartens, yachts, trailers, gardens, etc., where it is advantageous to be able to disassemble the furniture for compact storing and to be able to erect it easily when needed.

For example, one instance in which my invention has been applied with particular success is for an infants chair where the sturdiness of its construction is present notwithstanding the de mountable feature, and yet this same construction lends itself to disassembly and carrying in a flat zipper bag.

Another object of my invention is to provide means for securing the parts against disassembly and at the same time to obtainv a back for a chair.

The features which are common to the various articles constructed in accordance with my invention are the interlocking vertical members with extensions and a top member slotted to fit around these extensions and complete the interlocking of all the parts, permitting fairly rough handling of the article without its becoming disassembled.

To the above combination of elements may be added a top member which locks to the interlocked vertical members to form a table.

Also to the above combination of interlocked members may be added a flexible back which slidably engages two or more of the extensions to form a back as for a chair and also to provide an additional interlock preventing the seat member from being moved vertically to effect disengagement.

It will be noted that due to the angular setting of the extensions on the interlocked vertical members, the effect of placing the slotted top member to fit around these extensions is to seabove the bottom edge or feet 21 of each support-- as well as any tipping. The .latter is prevented by the angular relation of the slots fitted around the extensions.

Other objects and advantages of my invention will appear in the accompanying drawings forming a part of this specification and which, with this specification, are intended to be illustrative of the features of my invention. It is not intended to abandon any constructions or modifications coming within the claims of this patent and the spirit of this invention.

In the drawings,

Fig. 1 is a view in perspective of my invention applied to an infant's chair;

Fig. 2 is a. vertical and cross-sectional view of the same;

Fig. 3 is a. top plan view;

Fig. 4 is a top plan view taken on the line IV-IV of Fig. 2;

Fig. 5 is a view in perspective of the interlocked vertical members with extensions as used in the infant's chair;

Fig. 6 is an elevational view of one of said interlocked vertical members;

Fig. 7 is a plan view of the tray used with said chair;

Fig. 8 is a plan view of the combination seat member used with said chair and showing the upper fiap hinged back 180";

Fig. 9 is a detailed view of a lock;

Fig. 10 is a view in perspective of a chair;

Fig. 11 is an elevational view of one of the interlocked vertical members of said chair;

Fig. 12 is a view in perspective of a table embodying my invention;

Fig. 1-3 is an elevational view of one of the interlocked vertical members for said table;

Fig. 14 is a view in perspective of another form of table or stool; and

Fig. 15 is an elevational view of an interlocked vertical member used therewith.

I shall now describe my invention as it is applied to the infant's chair shown in Figs. 1 to 8 inclusive.

Referring to Fig. 6, the basis of this unit is a pair of vertical supporting panel members 20 and 2| having slots 22 and 23 by means of which they can be interlocked in the position shown in Fig. 5. The supporting members 20 and 2| also have portions 24 and 25 extending above a substantially horizontal offset surface 26 which is spaced ing member.

While I have shown the two vertical supporting cure the top member against lateral movement, members 20 and 2| secured together by means of interlocking slots 22 and 23, these parts may be secured together by hinged means or by slots shaped to allow them movement into a collapsed substantially flat engagement with each other.

The next element to be assembled is the seat portion 38 which comprises a substantially flat member having slots 3| set at an angle to engage with the extensions 24 and 25 onthe vertical sup- The element 38 is assembled porting members. by guiding the slots 3| in a downward direction as they engage the extensions 24 and 25 and come to rest on the offsets 26. These offsets carry the load placed on the seat 38 and the effect of the angular slots 3| embracing the extensions 24 and 25 is to lock the seat 38 against lateral movement or any tipping movement. Any attempt to lift the device on either edge of seat '38 is to cause the walls of the slots 3| to bind against the extensions 24 and 25 and prevent tipping movement. In other words, to remove seat 38 for disassembly, it must be moved vertically while being held in a substantially horizontal plane.

In the infant's chair means are shown for providing a toilet. For this purpose an opening 32 is provided in 'the seat member 38 to which a hinged flap or cover 33 is secured by hinges 34. The flap is cut away at the corners 35 so as to clear the extensions 24.

A recess is provided in the vertical supporting members at 28 to allow for the insertion of a receptacle 29.

A tray member 48 having a central portion 4| and rearwardly extending arms 42 is hinged to extensions 25 by means of rods 43 with enlarged ends 44. The latter are inserted through openings 45 in the extensions 25. The slots 46 and 41 at either side of the enlargement 45 permit respectively lifting of the tray upwardly to swing it clear of the head of the infant, and lowering of the arms 42 after the tray is in engagement with the faces 48 on extensions 24. A lock such as illustrated in Fig. 9 may be provided at 49 to secure the tray against lifting.

To provide a back for the chair a fabric member 58 is made having pockets or sleeves and- 52 which are adapted to encompass all or a portion of extensions 25. Suitable openings 53 are provided in this sleeve to permit accessof the tray rods 43 to the slots 46 and 41. When in place the back 58 and sleeves or strips 5| and 52 also serve as a means for preventing the upward movement of the seat member 38 because the lower edge 54 of the back extends across the back edge of the seat as shown in the left-hand side of Fig. 3.

When it is desired to provide a pad 55 to cover the seatthis may be hinged to the fabric back at 54.

In Figs. wand 11 I have illustrated a simple form of chair embodying my invention comprising three pieces, the two vertical supporting members 68 and BI and the seat member 62. Each vertical member has a complementary slot 63 and engage extensions 65. The angular setting of the extension 65 looks the seat member 62 against lateral movement in any direction an also if upward tilting movement is applied to its forward edge 68, the walls of the slots 61 will bind on the extensions 65 and limit this movement to a minimum. The only way the parts can be disassembled is by lifting the seat member 62 while held in a substantiallyhorizontal plane.

If a back is desired on this simple piece of furniture, the extension 65 may be used to support a member made of fabric or other suitable materia1 which has portions engaging with extensions 65 and closing the gap between them to form the back. This is illustrated in Fig. as a back member 18 with a sleeve or strip portion 1| engaged over the extensions 65. It will be noted that as the back member 18 is moved into position its lower edge 12 lies adjacent the back portion of the seat member 62 and thus serves to lock it against unintentional vertical movement. In fact, to remove the seat member 62 it is first necessary to remove the back member I2 from the extensions 65.

Another form which my invention may take is shown in Figs. 12 and 13 illustrating a table. In this instance the vertical supporting members 88 are provided with suitable feet 8| and have would have the proper angularity and length to permit assembly.

Each member 88 has extensions 83 and an offset portion 84 adapted to receive the horizontal interlocking member which serves as a shelf.

The interlocking member 85 has cooperating slots 86 adapted to embrace the extensions 83 on the vertical supporting members.

A top member 81 of any suitable shape is provided'and it is supported on the upper edges 88 of vertical members 88. In two or more of these upper edges 88 are placed small dowels 88 and suitable spring pressed locking members 88 which may be of the type shown in Fig. 9.

In Figs. 14 and 15 I show still further modifications for a table 0} stool comprising a pair of vertical supporting members I88 having suitable feet NH and cooperating interlocking slots I82 with dowels I83 and interlocking hooks |84v set in their upper horizontal face. If these interlocking hooks are not mounted in each of the supporting members, it is preferable that Where only a pair are used that these be in the vertical supporting member having its slot I82 in the position shown in Fig. 15. In this way the three elements are locked together securely. The top member I85 has holes adapted to receive the dowels I83 and members to be engaged by the interlocks I84 whereby the three pieces may become an integral unit.

While any desired form of interlocking means |84 may be used, I prefer one which lends itself to quick assembly with a minimum of fitting. In

Fig. 9 is shown a locking unit which comprises the shell 8 having a spring pressed lever II I pivoted at 2. It is maintained against stop 3 by spring |,|4. The head N5 of the lever has a sloping face 6 with a flat back 1. The shell 8 is adapted to fit in a slot 'cut in the flat material used in making up this composite furniture. 1

The cooperating member to be used with this lock comprises a plug I28 adapted to be screwed into an opening in the other member by means of threads |2| and the slot I22. This plug I20 is a, hollowed out with the exception of the ledge I 23 which, upon insertion, is set to receive the flat face I" of the pivoted locking member.

What I claim is:

l. A collapsible article of furniture, comprising a plurality of panels disposed on edge and vertically slotted between the .vertical side edges thereof with their slotted portions interfltted to provide a substantially rigid X-shaped base, each of said panels having an end edge portion extending vertically above the adjoining upper edge portion of each panel, and a horizontal supporting member rested upon said adjoining edge portions of said panels and having diagonal slots therein interlocked with the vertically extended end edge portion of each panel.

2. A collapsible article of furniture, comprising a pair of vertically slotted and slidably interfitted panels forming a substantially rigid X-shaped supporting base, said panels having their upper 20 edges stepped downwardly from opposite ends thereof to provide intermediate horizontal supporting edge portions below the planes of the upper extremities of the end portions, and a horizontal supporting member extending over 25 the intermediate supporting edge portions and having diagonal slots interlocked with said end portions of the panels.

3. A collapsible article of furniture, comprising a pair of vertically slotted and slidably interfitted panels forming substantially equal opposite angles at their intersection, each panel having an upper horizontal intermediate edge portion vertically spaced with respect to the upper edge portions of the adjoining vertically extending end portion of the panel, and a horizontal sup porting member resting upon the intermediate upper edge portions of the intersecting panels and having diagonal slots interlocking with said adjoining edge portions.

4. A collapsible article of furniture comprising a pair of vertically slotted and slidably interfltted panels forming a substantially rigid X- shaped supporting base, each panel having a portion of its upper edge stepped downwardly to provide a horizontal supporting edge portion and a pair of upstanding end portions having their upper extremities vertically spaced thereabove. a horizontal supporting member resting upon the supporting edge portions of the panels and having diagonal slots interlocking with the upstanding end portions thereof, and a flexible member embracing said upstanding end portions and extending vertically therebetween and at substantially right angles to said supporting member.

ORVIILE C. GOLDNER. 

